All Hallows' Eve is October 31, the evening before All Saints' Day on November 1. It was a Christian observance of the saints and of the faithful departed, and it survives today mostly as the American cultural holiday of Halloween. Most congregations do not treat the night as a holy day.
Where does the name come from?
"Hallow" is an old English word for "holy," so "All Hallows" means "all the saints," and "eve" means the evening before a feast. The shortened spelling "Hallowe'en" appears in older English and survives as "Halloween." Early usage of "All Hallows" included the faithful departed along with the saints; over time the observance came to center on the saints. The dedication also lives on in church names, and many American Episcopal congregations are called All Hallows.
What was observed on that night?
In Britain, All Saints' Day fell in the late-autumn harvest season, and the days around it included feasting, processions, and bonfires. The Church encouraged the season as a time for prayer for the dead, which is why All Souls' Day follows on November 2. Some customs from older European festivals of the dead were folded into the observance, though historians debate how much of modern Halloween descends from the Celtic Samhain. Both the Christian calendar and older customs belong to its history.
How do American churches observe it today?
Few American congregations hold a required service on October 31, since a feast day is normally kept on November 1 itself. Roman Catholic churches celebrate All Saints' Day with Mass, and it is a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church. Episcopal and Anglican churches mark All Saints' Day, and some hold a vigil the night before. Lutheran calendars list All Saints' Day on November 1, and Eastern Orthodox churches keep a Sunday of All Saints after Pentecost.
Is Halloween still a religious observance?
For most Americans, Halloween is a secular folk holiday built around costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating. Many churches now treat it as a community event rather than a sacred one, offering Trunk or Treat, a fall festival, or a family night that avoids the frightening side of the culture. Some churches that once advertised a "Halloween alternative" now call the same gathering "Fall Fest" or "Harvest Night."
What to expect at an evening service
When a congregation marks October 31, expect readings about the saints, hymns naming well-known figures of the faith, prayers for the church and for the departed, and sometimes candlelight. Some churches hold a short evening prayer while others host a family program with games and treats. Most keep the main observance on November 1, so check the schedule before you go. To read more about the feast itself, see All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.